After more than two months in the muck during which workers who included doctors, nurses and administrative staff went on strike to protest mistreatment by the management, Nairobi Hospital board has come up to assure the public of unwavering commitment to quality service and institutional integrity.

Nairobi Hospital, a premier referral health institution in East and Central Africa was plunged into a crisis at the beginning of this year after workers downed tools to call for a reconstitution of the board to rid the hospital of corruption and a host of administrative flaws.

Besides staff unrest, the hospital has been grappling with financial challenges that raised concerns that precipitated investigations from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) into alleged financial mismanagement and corruption in the institution.

During a press conference at the hospital on Tuesday, board chair Barcley Onyambu said the hospital is committed to quality healthcare and upholds its status as a trusted institution at the heart of Kenya’s healthcare system.

“Leadership confidence is vital to any institution, particularly one central to the health of the community such as The Nairobi Hospital. The recent reports on integrity and leadership are isolated and do not detract us from our focus. The board continues to work cohesively, guided by a strong leadership team and a commitment to shared values,” said the chair.

As they navigate this chapter, Onyambu pledged to fully repay the country’s trust in them and continue serving them in the best way possible. To enhance governance and operational excellence of the institution, the board chair announced changes in its board of directors set to bring diverse expertise and fresh perspectives that will strengthen strategic oversight and institutional decision-making.

He expressed his confidence in the newly appointed team saying that the changes made will accelerate the institutions momentum towards excellence. The chair assured stakeholders that it was cooperating fully with authorities while safeguarding its patients’ privacy and institutional integrity in regards to the DCI scrutiny on the hospital.

Acting Chief Executive Officer Felix Osano echoed the chair’s sentiments saying: “We are taking decisive steps to address challenges and ensure that The Nairobi Hospital remains a beacon of trust and quality healthcare in Kenya.”

Despite the hospital’s hurdles, the board remains optimistic about the future with measures already in place to safeguard business continuity and ensure that core services and hospital operations remain uninterrupted.

• A Tell Media / KNA report / By Jesee Otieno

Nairobi Hospital Board Chair Barcley Onyambu speaking to the press at the board press conference briefing on the April 8, 2025 at Nairobi Hospital in Nairobi.